Blepharoplasty is an operation to tighten the skin and the muscles around the eyes, get rid of the bags over and under the eyes, remove any excess fat around the eyes or re-distribute it for a more youthful look.
The scars from a Blepharoplasty:
• For an upper blepharoplasty are in the upper eyelid crease with a short extension into the crow’s feet
• for a lower blepharoplasty just under the lower eyelashes with a short extension into the crow’s feet
• For certain lower eyelids the scar can be hidden inside the lower eyelid only
Barbara Jemec will discuss the different options with you on an individual basis.
Blepharoplasty is performed under General Anaesthesia, though upper blepharoplasty only can be done under Local Anaesthesia.
Upper Blepharoplasty is usually performed as a Day Case, but a lower Blepharoplasty usually stays over night. You will have painkillers and antibiotics to take home.
If you have external scars the stitches are removed at 3 days, if you only have a scar inside your lower eyelids the stitches are dissolvable.
As always it takes some time before the scars settle down, but around the eye the scars are very fine.
Your eyelids will be swollen and bruised for the next two weeks and sometimes the fine cover of the eyeball itself and the inside of the lids (conjunctiva) becomes very swollen and is treated with a short course of steroid eye drops.
In the first couple of weeks after a lower blepharoplasty your eyes will have an upward slant, as I have tightened the attachment of the corner of the eye to the bony eyesocket, to support the lower eyelid whilst it heals. If this is not done the lower eyelid can hang away from the eyeball.
It is important to remember that when you have had your eyelids
operated, you will look different, not just because the fat and the
bags have been removed, but the slant of your eyes is changed and the
lower eyelid may appear shorter.
The potential complications from blepharoplasty are:
blindness (0.01-0.04%) (see below 1,2)
a bleed behind the eye, which necessitates your return to theatres for the blood to be removed (very very rare)
bruising
infection
transient ectropion (lower eyelid hangs away from eyeball)
asymmetry
transient excessive tear production (epiphora)
2. Peruzzo M, Mélega JM. Cegueira pós-blefaroplastia estética. Rev Soc Bras Cir Plast. 1988;3(2):138-42.
contact 07960 131 106 for consultation
plasticsurgeryjemec@gmail.com